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Abstract

Oithona nana (Copepoda: Cyclopoida)is a widely-distributed neritic species, which often comprises up to 90 percentage of the zooplankton in many coastal areas. This small copepod plays an important role as a dominant prey in the diet of Engraulis anchoita larvae, which is a main component of major ecological relevance in the pelagic food webs of the Argentine Sea (SW Atlantic Ocean). The objective of this study was to estimate, for the first time, the seasonal variation of O. nana secondary production in a temperate region: coastal waters off Buenos Aires province, Argentina, at the EPEA Station (Estación Permanente de Estudios Ambientales, (38°28' S-57°41' W). Zooplankton samples (N=14)were taken by oblique tows of a Minibongo net (mouth diameter: 0.18 m; mesh opening: 67 km; with a flowmeter), from October 2003 to December 2004, on board the R/V Capitán Cánepa (INIDEP). The annual variations of O. nana abundance, biomass and production were investigated, focusing on the relationship .....

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The seasonal production of Oithona nana (Copepoda: Cyclopoida)in the coastal waters off Argentina